The Central Government has established a single-member committee to investigate the candidature claims and other details of Puja Manorma Dilip Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer recently embroiled in controversy over her alleged misuse of power as a civil servant.

The Ministry of Personnel announced Thursday that the committee, headed by an Additional Secretary-level officer, will submit its findings within two weeks. This inquiry comes in the wake of allegations surrounding Khedkar’s conduct and qualifications.

Khedkar is a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, who secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 841 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam, sparked a controversy recently when she used her private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate.

She allegedly demanded facilities not typically available to probationary officers.

A report by Pune Collector Suhas Diwse detailed Khedkar’s repeated demands for special treatment, including a separate cabin, car, residential quarters, and a peon, even before officially beginning her training on June 3. These requests were denied.

The IAS trainee was also accused of removing the nameplate of a senior official at the Pune collector’s office when he allowed her to use his ante-chamber as her office.

Further allegations suggest Khedkar may have submitted fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam. Reports also claim she provided a mental illness certificate but failed to report to AIIMS Delhi for verification when summoned in April 2022, citing a Covid infection.

The controversy led to Khedkar’s transfer from Pune to Washim in central Maharashtra on Tuesday.

(Inputs from ANI)